Improvement in car-coupling links



J. M. CLEM.

Car-Coupling Link. No. 163,742,t PatentedMay25,1875.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0L|TM.39&41 PARK PLAGEAILY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. OLEM, OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF .PART OF HIS BIGT -TO W. B. SHAPARD, GEO. A. AND A. I. BIRCH, AND W. S. GREENE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLING LINKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,743, dated May 25, 1875 application filed April l, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. GLEN, of Opelika, in the county of Lee and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Coupling Link; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which. form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in providing an ordinary couplinglink with one or two sliding blocks movable therein, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupling-link provided with one sliding block. Fig. 2 is a cross-section ofthe same through the line x fr, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a link provided With two sliding blocks. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the same through A the line y y.

A represents an ordinary couplin g-link, such as is commonly used in the pin-and-link couplin gs. B represents a metallic block,provided with grooves in its sides, and fitting within the link, so as to slide freely from one end to the other. This block is made heavier or longer on one side, a, than on the other, b, to hold the link up when the cars are the same height by working the large side of the block down in the chamber of the draw-head; and where the cars are of different heights the links are designed to be turned over to let the outer end of the links drop seas to enter the lower draw-head. Two blocks, B B, may be used, as shown in Fig. 3, with a spring, G, between them in the center of the link, which gives all the elasticity necessary and takes up all the slack. l

I am aware that springs have been used in connection with blocks in coupling-links; and I do not, therefore, claim such device; but

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The sliding block B, combined with the link A, and having one side longer than the other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. f

JAMES M. GLEM. Witnesses:

WM. S. GREENE, W. B. SHAPARD. 

